How to Hollow a Figure Sculpture with Drapery

This video shows Philippe Faraut demonstrating the step-by-step process of hollowing a water-based clay sculpture in preparation for firing.
The process of sculpting of this piece "I Don't" is the final exercise shown in Faraut's book entitled Figure Sculpting Volume 2: Gesture & Drapery Techniques in Clay. The techniques above are not shown in the book.
Book Link: philippefaraut...
Website: philippefaraut...
Instagram: / philippe_faraut

[@chame17]

Jesus, this man is fearless.

[@c.glazercrush3994]

The way he was taking out the steel frame work and still. maintaining the form properly.Also into some c.g art work,check this out.m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJmZd6iXppanopY#searching

[@freckledcracker1481]

Yes, there are many ways to hollow a sculpture; to each artist their preference. This is just a more advanced way of doing it. I do agree, though, that it was kinda of scary to watch as you cut through chunks of all your work, but I know it is necessary. Amazing work, I was fascinated by watching you do this!

[@sculpit]

Thanks

[@boggart2da.]

Why do guys do it though? So just I would have a idea

[@hunterguidoboni5082]

@@boggart2da. when you fire the sculpture it can be dangerous to have clay walls too thick as moisture can stay trapped inside the clay and cause it to explode inside the kiln, this can be avoided by soaking it for very long time at a lower temperature if you want it to stay solid, but this is the safest and cheapest way.

[@doobeone]

@@hunterguidoboni5082 thanks for the clarification.

[@camilopachon9845]

hunter guidoboni I thought it was to remove some of the weight. I guess that to right?

[@allhopeabandon7831]

What a beautiful sculpture...I began the vid not really thinking 'hollowing' the sculpture would actually be hollowing the sculpture, like throwing a vase isn't actually throwing a vase. Very impressive that you could do such a meticulous endeavor. You are a true artist with the skill and confidence to hollow this piece.

[@rodrigogoguiroae5598]

This is one of the greatest sculting work on clay I've ever seen. After beeing on the clay-road for a while, to see something impacting my soul is reallly rare, you got it, Philippe , cheers

[@Frakfayt]

I must say, I am gobsmacked with this... I never thought one could remove the entire wire from the clay sculpture once it was finished...Very interesting , you certainly need a lot of skill and confidence.

[@luvz2reed]

If he's talented enough to sculpt it once, he's talented enough to fix it up.

[@douglasfree1664]

i am just so consistently impressed by this mans techniques.

[@tomtondeur3522]

Philippe Faraut, your work is absolutely amazing and i would think these video's show the highest level of skill possible for a sculptor...it's a real pleasure to watch it come about!

[@JMSculptureDesigns]

Bonjour Mr faraut ! J'ai reçu vos livres hier que j'attendais avec impatience ! J'ai commencé aujourd'hui a travailler selon votre méthode, j'ai été bluffé par ce que j'ai créer !! Tout est tellement clair et simple en suivant votre façon d'appréhender la sculpture, je suis heureux aujourd'hui avec ma création, ce livre, votre livre devient pour moi une véritable Bible que je garde précieusement et je continue ma route dans mon art sur vos traces et celles des anciens !! Je savoure chaque phase d'apprentissage ! Merci pour cette superbe méthode ! Un salut de France !!😀

[@michigandave9680]

Fascinating to observe and the music deserves praise. It was appropriate to the video and stands on it's own as well. Thank you for sharing both.

[@janegarcia4513]

This is the best example of removing armature I’ve ever seen. Thank you for sharing this!

[@sculpit]

You're very welcome!

[@mebearcreations]

Darn, that was scary! Until a few weeks ago, I never knew you had to hollow your sculpture. I’m not sure if I have the nerves to learn this. Anyway, big thanks for the demonstration. Your sculpture looks fabulous! I really love her.

[@amywalker7515]

If it's made of ordinary clay, you have to or it will explode in the kiln.

[@MMMM-sv1lk]

First time a ceramic dude tried doing this to one of my sculptures, I was so mad inside, like I wanted to punch the guy for cutting it up, I was about to cry out of frustration... Because I was sure he'd end up ruining it... 😢 But then it all went real smooth and the piece came out looking great. 🙂 Now I do this on a regular basis and I must add it is a lot simpler than it looks. Especially if you are a master like Phillippe. Great video as always you are an inspiration. 😉👌

[@frankwick3989]

Holy cow! I've been in art since the late 80's and have never seen this technique! I think I'd be a nervous wreck each step of the way. Thanks for the new approach.

[@flexarnn]

This was horrifying to watch

[@elisabethcrokaerts1980]

don't worry he know what he's doing lol..

[@hunterborden6891]

@@elisabethcrokaerts1980 I don't think he meant it like that... xD

[@Amina2544]

@@hunterborden6891 Indeed not... The face being sliced off was bad enough, but I had to turn away for a moment as he started cutting her arms... I guess some of us simply react differently.

[@rao.shobha]

I was the edge of my seat closing one eye as he started cutting thru this master piece. 😱

[@cynthiadunlap8930]

He’s a Genius! As an artist I would follow him around the world! He’s FABULOUS!

[@lescaillouxbleus]

Philippe, merci d'exister, de créer et aussi de partager tes méthodes. J'admire ton travail, tellement... Mon rêve est d'assister un jour à tes cours...

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Fascinating to watch. It's similar to Oil Painting when you carefully craft a painting, and then take a palette knife and scape half of it away because it's not good enough. It's hard to watch, but the artist knows recreating it isn't a problem, and it'll be better once done. This is to allow for physics of heating clay I guess, but still, quite horrifying to watch. Love learning new things. :D

[@smitak5579]

Man this guy could be the best surgeon on earth! We lost one but I am glad we did!

[@nelsonx5326]

The confidence to cut and fix this lovely sculpture!

[@aishwaryaanilkumar1989]

Your work is the best that is out there. Its wonderful to watch your art

[@ipi223]

beautiful and so skillful i do 3d and never will try sculpting in any form without undo...... this master have the talent to do beautiful sculpture AND can do them dealing with technicality (one shot or scrap, or lot of work again) with surgeon hands Respect

[@cubitus37]

I love to watch every single piece of this video! Thank you

[@-AmA-]

Unbelievable! Thanks for showing this delicate and impossible process!

[@sculpit]

Delicate but not impossible, it is actually fairly easy if the clay is at the right consistency and not as time consuming as a rubber mold with the added advantage that it is free.

[@-AmA-]

Philippe Faraut Yes, I perfectly know what you mean...and a good clay is also one of the keys...are you going to show this technique in Roquefort on the next June too? That would be amazing!

[@sculpit]

I will show how to hollow out a portrait, which is the same principle. Are you taking my classe?

[@-AmA-]

That’s interesting even if I have no kiln...yet. I hope so! I’m in the waiting list. 😊

[@UnwrappingByMimiKoteng]

Congratulations on 100k sub!

[@pamelahansen5928]

Brave and fearless - incredibly talented

[@theillustratedbird1809]

Beautiful work 🙏🏻

[@bahar2679]

This is amazing 👏🏻

[@therealillumor]

And ladies and gentlemen that's what's called A R T. Love it ♥

[@LabRat6619]

Beautiful work ❤️

[@rebeccamcinroy6042]

Beautiful work

[@MANIAKRA]

Wow that was captivating to watch

[@MANIAKRA]

P.S. I own all your books and refer to them all the time!

[@yvettemaene5179]

The work is amazing,l wanted to know why you removed the sketch skeleton from your work

[@jeremybong7238]

Just imagine, you could hide some treasured jewellery inside...

[@ivymae9560]

That would be awesome, if he becomes a legend (which his pretty close) someday people will have his art in a big event and if somebody knocks into it then boom!

[@madhatter785]

ive been thinking about concepts for incorporating jewelry into my work, Ill add this one to the pot!

[@BestHakase]

You can’t do this because the jewelry will simply burn!

[@Kelly171090]

that was my first thought too lol

[@ScepticusHistoricus]

Wow. Just, wow!

[@jmg3487]

This was scarier than any roller coaster. Straight up gave me the feeling of falling 🤣🤣 what a bad ass.

[@aleksandarjovancic6947]

Beautiful artwork 🗿👋👋👋

[@thenordiccreative5941]

I would love to see how you build your armatures/support!

[@suzetefernandescosta6866]

Sensacional essa aula,estas de Parabéns pela obra de arte e por passar seu conhecimento!👏👏👍

[@RavenArtDesigns]

So awesome!

[@rahulkori6255]

Amazing lovely work 😍😘😘😘👏👏👌👍

[@isissecretspy4610]

really talentuous ! it's enchanting ♥

[@AmanArtx]

I hollowed my one of sculpture I almost had a heart attack ...But it turned out to be very light and looks as same as before ..I didn't knew that hollowing is important to fire the sculpture I used to put a big fat ass wood stick in the middle and when it burnedout fully it becomes hollow but it wasn't enough thanks for your showing this video this gives me courage ,,,to do this with all my art work ooh

[@emilysclay9344]

Stunning work

[@Little_wings.]

U r so talented plz upload more videos 🙏🙏🙏

[@ngn8785]

This is very advanced, respect!

[@shauhengli5177]

really stunning work also felt pain when you cut them especially your work is so pretty and real

[@michelzenitud5524]

Excellent travail manuelle bravo 👍

[@dave5194]

Wow, how long did this sculpture take to dry enough to fire? Do you have any techniques for accelerating drying process without it cracking? Cheers

[@moonolyth]

Wow ! what a great Idea.

[@brendawillems792]

Omg 😱 how??? Is it possible? That you can make a sculpture looking that stunning and lovely and strong?! 👌🏽😍

[@theillitistpro]

ART.

[@sothathappened]

incredible

[@andreadellarosa5262]

incredibile è veramente un bravissimo artista. grande lavoro complimenti

[@forex_class-250]

Can you tell as how you prevent cracking in your sculptures

[@banglarshilpigharaviitpal1410]

very nice idea

[@pennytuppence2000]

Beautiful

[@TheParerajeanmichel]

Impressionnant et magnifique... Merci.

[@jellyzelle8334]

Ok honestly this is *not* my league, but quite satisfying to watch

[@tylermosier5461]

Wow. This gave me so much anxiety. So much courage to cut into it.

[@TheOnlyTQ]

Is there an air dry clay you would recommend for staying on the armature for many years? What is the least likely to crack over time? I am looking to start a bust sculpture and I don't know yet if I want to try this and find a kiln I can use. This was amazing to see, I didn't know exactly what the hollowing process looked like.

[@manhdungart]

Great sculptor

[@DiegoSanchez-bz1ru]

beautiful

[@albertocolonia9377]

de verdad que hermoso trabajo .

[@TotemoGaijin]

If I were trying to make something on a much smaller scale, and used toothpicks as supports, would they need to be removed too? Or would the heat take care of them?

[@phillipvance864]

Hi Mr. Faraut, do your figure books (3&4) actually detail this process of hollowing and cutting out the armature? Your video makes it look very simple, but I would like to have some more instruction if possible before I try this. Regards

[@Massev6871]

Unbelievable!!!

[@ralphtony1144]

Holy mother of God this was beautiful I'm not even joking.

[@mfaizanattique]

@philippe faraut why do we need to hollow the sculpture??

[@vn3138]

This work will be fired in a kiln. If it isnt hollowed out, it may explode in the kiln or not fire all the way

[@ugurtayefeh9991]

Muhteşem. ..Beautiful. ..Thank you. ...Türkei.💖

[@evi4128]

This man got Ice flowing through his veins.

[@Tusitiodetalladoshorts]

Buenos trabajos mi hermano

[@ruban8038]

increible

[@Pseudo-style]

Purement magnifique

[@fuu812]

WOW, really felt bad watching this. Does the wire always need to be removed? Thank you.

[@jcja902]

Wow..in my mind so many things just just popped in my head..like is this hard to do? How hard is it to learn? What's the best advice if I wanted to learn to do something this amazing?

[@laryme9148]

Your scultures are awesome i like them ❤❤ i want to ask you what is the product that you make it like this please ❤

[@VoyagerGC]

thank you!

[@gabrielagraneros8141]

BRAVISSSSIMO MAESTRO!!!!! Bravissssimo 💚🌷🍃

[@xyzzypumpkin504]

HE IS A MADMAN

[@lisalovelylpa]

Jeez that’s so intense after all that work take everything apart lol

[@ricardomorais9175]

Boa noite... parabéns 👏👏👏 Porque não pode deixar os arames na escultura?... Obrigado.

[@nicolleafonso14]

Se faz isso normalmente para o processo de queima da escultura, onde a argila é queimada em um forno específico pra virar cerâmica. Então é necessário que a escultura seja oca por dentro por conta dos gases que circulam durante o processo, caso contrário ela explode. Também, mesmo que a escultura não vá ser queimada, o artista pode escolher fazer isso em caso de trabalhos grandes, pra torná-la mais leve e economizar bastante argila. Uma escultura de grande porte maciça corre muito mais risco de rachar, trincar, e é muito pesada.

[@fiona5219]

Is it possible to leave the aluminum armature inside the sculpture during firing if you pad around it with newspaper so that the metal armature is not in contact with the clay (only the newspaper) but when you fire the sculpture the paper will burn out (vent holes hidden in details) and armature remains without causing stress on the drying clay?

[@sculpit]

Technically yes if the padding is sufficient and the firing very slow.

[@يوسفالحميداوي-ق4ل]

ياسلام 💕💕💕💕

[@jesuschristus8222]

Sehr lehrreich!!

[@oodee11]

ok... i love this and i'm gonna try doing this ... i don't promise it will come out good but i'll try :) what clay do you use? paper clay? high grog?

[@madisonfaraut]

It Is low fire earthenware water-based clay, no grog.

[@oodee11]

Brooklyn Rae Fox thanks

[@Yourhighnessnona]

Question: isn't it better to hollow out the statue before detailing?

[@janegarcia4513]

It would collapse under its own weight

[@MyCreativeIdeasIndia]

Very painful . .

[@razz9266]

Very painful indeed🤮

[@cpetati1]

Wonderfull!!!

[@pchinnIII]

I do handbuilt pottery, so how do you keep the clay at the same moisture level? To slice the arm like that the clay has to be at a perfect state of dryness and then to reassemble the arm you have to use the perfect amount of pressure with only a single support. I think there is some magic shit going on here.

[@patglenn7762]

Do you need to leave any air holes for pressure equalization during firing?

[@juliettelite3048]

please say what kind f of clay are you using ? I used sculpting clay and I couldnt do details , it was too sandy , please advise

[@durielvs]

now i need the why do this. cost saving in clay ? time saving in the firing ?

[@sculpit]

It is safer to fire water-based-clay that is no thicker than 25 millimeter (1 inch). So by making it hollow it is not only lighter but can be fired. Also the armature is made of aluminum. When clay dries it shrinks a lot but the since the armature does not the sculpture would crack, that is why it needs to be removed.

[@durielvs]

@@sculpit thnx a lot

[@senli6453]

WOW!

That is so painful to watch... Why don't you stuff newspaper in, and let the fire do its part

[@sculpit]

Not as simple as that, the thickness of the clay needs to be fairly consistent to prevent stress during the drying process.

Philippe Faraut I love your work, you made my day with your reply!

[@sculpit]

Thanks. My pleasure.

[@simone1805]

Even if you put newspaper in it you need to take the newspaper out but it does make it a lot less complicated then this XD

owo ! What people oftentimes do in ceramic applications is making a hollow piece with a hole on the base and some breathing holes on the top. The fire will burn the paper out and just leave out ashes. I guess, as mr Faraut said, this is not the case.

[@שרהכהןאפשטיין-פ3ס]

Great ! Thank's

[@wendyzindars730]

What gauge wire do you use?

[@Amina2544]

Must every type of armature be removed before firing?

[@wolflahti412]

You're a braver man than I, Gunga Din.